GNS3 - OSPF Lab - Part 3

This is the second of four labs devoted to GNS3 OSPF. In the In our previous labs we configured area 0,
area 10 with the redistribution of EIGRP and area 23, this time, we will address the configuration of area
30, which, contrary to the logic of OSPF n is not directly connected to area 0. In other words, this lab will
discuss the creation of a virtual-link in OSPF.

The situation:
As shown in the network diagram, area 30 is not directly connected to area 0, which goes against the
basic operation of OSPF. Free for any specific configuration, this area will simply be ignored by the rest
of the network.

Solution:
To correct this problem it is necessary to create an area to virtually extend area 0 to the limit of the area
30. For this there are two ways:
 Create a GRE tunnel between ABR2 and ABR3.
 Configure a virtual-link in OSPF.

Each of these methods has its uses. However in most cases, the virtual-links are used.

Both methods are based on a principle of data encapsulation to convey through the area that separates
the area from the area 0 "distant". However, the virtual-links that will encapsulate OSPF exchanges,
while using a GRE tunnel encapsulation cause OSPF exchanges but also data, causing an overload of
additional data (since all packets pass from the area 30 should be encapsulated in the GRE tunnel), while
with a virtual-link data flows normally.

In one case, the GRE tunnel can be useful. Using a virtual-link requires the transit area (the area
between the remote area of 0) is a standard area (non-stub), if we cannot meet this condition, the only
functional approach then is to create a GRE tunnel through the transit area to create a link between the
remote area and area 0.

Learning objectives:
 Understand and configure a virtual link area.
 Verify the operation of the virtual link.

Tasks:
1. Start by setting the area on 30 ABR3.

ABR3 # conf t
ABR3 (config) # router ospf 1
ABR3 (config-router) # network 192.168.30.0 0.0.0.255 area 30
ABR3 (config-router) # ^ Z
ABR3 #

2. Now check if the route to the 192.168.30.0/24 network has been propagated to ABR2.
 ABR2> sh ip route
Codes: C - connected, S - static, R - RIP, M - mobile, B - BGP
D - EIGRP, EX - EIGRP external, O - OSPF, IA - OSPF inter area
N1 - OSPF NSSA external type 1, N2 - OSPF NSSA external type 2
E1 - OSPF external type 1, E2 - OSPF external type 2
i - IS-IS, su - IS-IS summary, L1 - IS-IS level-1, L2 - IS-IS level-2
ia - IS-IS inter area, * - candidate default, U - per-user static route
o - ODR, P - periodic downloaded static route

Gateway of last resort is not set

192.168.10.0/30 is subnetted, 2 subnets

O IA 192.168.10.0 [110/782] via 10.0.0.3, 0:22:40, FastEthernet0 / 0
O IA 192.168.10.4 [110/1563] via 10.0.0.3, 0:22:40, FastEthernet0 / 0
10.0.0.0 / 8 is variably subnetted, 5 subnets, 2 masks
O 10.0.1.8/30 [110/782] via 10.0.0.3, 0:23:03, FastEthernet0 / 0
[110/782] via 10.0.0.2, 0:23:03, FastEthernet0 / 0
10.0.1.12/30 C is directly connected, Serial0 / 1
C 10.0.0.0/24 is directly connected, FastEthernet0 / 0
O 10.0.1.0/30 [110/782] via 10.0.0.3, 0:23:03, FastEthernet0 / 0
[110/782] via 10.0.0.1, 0:23:03, FastEthernet0 / 0
C 10.0.1.4/30 is directly connected, Serial0 / 0
C 192.168.23.0/24 is directly connected, FastEthernet0 / 1
O E1 192.168.100.0/24 [110/1564] via 10.0.0.3, 0:22:34, FastEthernet0 / 0
ABR2>

As expected, the route to the 192.168.30.0/24 network (which is in the area 30) has not been
transmitted to ABR2, this is because the area 30 is not directly attacked the area0.

3. Configure area 23 to be a virtual-link between area 0 and area 30.

Note that a virtual-link configuration at both ends of the transit area. In our case, it will be on
ABR2 and ABR3. On each of them we will define a virtual-link through the area and 23 indicate
the opposite end using the router-id configured in OSPF.

4. Configuring the virtual-link on ABR2.

The syntax is: area <transit-area> virtual-link router <router-id of opposé>

ABR2 # conf t
ABR2 (config) # router ospf 1
ABR2 (config-router) # area 23 virtual-link 4.4.4.4
ABR2 (config-router) # exit
ABR2 (config) #

5. Configuration on ABR3.

ABR3 # conf t
 Enter configuration commands, one per line. End with CNTL / Z.
ABR3 (config) # router ospf 1
ABR3 (config-router) # area 23 virtual-link 3.3.3.3
ABR3 (config-router) #

Note the following message:

March 1 00:39:29.075:% OSPF-5-ADJCHG: Process 1, Nbr 3.3.3.3 on OSPF_VL0 from LOADING to
FULL, Loading Done
ABR3 (config-router) #

Note as seen through the message displayed when the virtual link is configured, an adjacency is
formed. The area 30 is now virtually connected to area 0.

Verify Virtual-Link:
6. ABR2 check on the adjacency is formed, the state of the virtual-link ... etc.

show ip ospf neighbors

ABR2 # sh ip ospf neighbor

Neighbor ID Pri State Dead Time Address Interface 4.4.4.4 0 FULL / - 192.168.23.254 OSPF_VL1
5.5.5.5 0 FULL / - 0:00:32 10.0.1.13 Serial0 / 1 1.1.1.1 0 FULL / - 0:00:36 10.0.1.5 Serial0 / 0
1.1.1.1 1 FULL / DROTHER 0:00:39 10.0.0.1 FastEthernet0 / 0 2.2.2.2 1 FULL / DROTHER 0:00:37
10.0.0.3 FastEthernet0 / 0 5.5. 5.5 1 FULL / DR 0:00:33 10.0.0.2 FastEthernet0 / 0 4.4.4.4 1 FULL
/ DR 0:00:34 192.168.23.254 FastEthernet0 / 1 # ABR2

Note that ABR2 two adjacency relations ABR3 (4.4.4.4), one via the Fa0 / 1 interface, the other
via a special interface ... OSPF_VL1 ... a virtual interface that is used by OSPF to encapsulate
OSPF messages to pass through the area 23.

show ip ospf virtual-links

ABR2 # sh ip ospf virtual-links
Virtual Link OSPF_VL1 to router 4.4.4.4 is up
Run as demand system
DoNotAge LSA allowed.
Transit area 23 , via FastEthernet0 / 1 interface, Cost of using 10
Transmit Delay is 1 sec, State POINT_TO_POINT,
Timer intervals configured, Hello 10, Dead 40, Wait 40, Retransmit 5
Hello due in 0:00:03
Adjacency State FULL (Hello suppressed)
Index 6/7, retransmission queue length 0, number of retransmission 0
First 0x0 (0) / 0x0 (0) Next 0x0 (0) / 0x0 (0)
Last retransmission scan length is 0, maximum is 0
Last retransmission scan time is 0 msec, maximum is 0 msec
ABR2 #

7. This command checks the status of the virtual-link and all parameters are applied.
An interesting thing to analyze is the behavior of the virtual-link. By throwing an eye on it
directly ABR3 includes the virtual-link extends the area 0, not the 30 area, simply by the fact that
now, ABR3 is also part of the area 0 ...

show ip ospf (on ABR3)

ABR3 # sh ip ospf
Routing Process "ospf 1" with ID 4.4.4.4
Start time: 00:00:09.392, Time elapsed: 00:52:42.496
<--- Some lines omitted --->
Area BACKBONE (0)
Number of interfaces in this area is 1
Area Has No authentication
SPF algorithm last Executed 00:13:14.304 ago
SPF algorithm Executed 3 times
Area ranges are
Number of LSA 11. Checksum Sum 0x071E72
Number of opaque link LSA 0. Checksum Sum 0x000000
Number of DCbitless LSA 0
Number of indication LSA 0
Number of LSA 8 DoNotAge
Flood list length 0
Area 23
Number of interfaces in this area is 1
This HAS area transit capability: Virtual Link Endpoint
Area Has No authentication
SPF algorithm last Executed 00:13:14.308 ago
SPF algorithm Executed 6 times
Area ranges are
Number of LSA 13. Checksum Sum 0x05A07E
Number of opaque link LSA 0. Checksum Sum 0x000000
Number of DCbitless LSA 0
Number of indication LSA 0
Number of DoNotAge LSA 0
Flood list length 0
Area 30
Number of interfaces in this area is 1
Area Has No authentication
SPF algorithm last Executed 00:13:24.792 ago
SPF algorithm Executed 3 times
Area ranges are
Number of LSA 10. Checksum Sum 0x051A75
Number of opaque link LSA 0. Checksum Sum 0x000000
Number of DCbitless LSA 0
Number of indication LSA 0
Number of DoNotAge LSA 0
Flood list length 0
ABR3 #
 8. ABR2 now part of three areas. The area 0, via area 23 and area 30.

This completes the third lab; we have now created a virtual link area connecting area 30 to area 0. At
this point we have a functional backbone area 0 and two secondary areas 10 and 23 with area 10 being a
Not So Totally stuby Area. We also have EIGRP being redistributed into OSPF and finally we have a
virtual link connecting area 30 and area 0.
.